Georgia’s wins over Tech are the sweetest of all
If it’s Georgia-Georgia Tech week, then you know certain things are happening. Mark Richt and the UGA coaching staff are assuring everyone that Tech really is still Georgia’s chief rival. UGA fans are fretting about whether the Dogs’ defense can suddenly switch gears to stop that quirky triple option. And Paul Johnson is being his usual snarky, sarcastic self.
This year, there are also the added distractions of worrying about what Georgia’s running game will look like against the Jackets and wondering whether the Dogs might get caught looking ahead to the SEC Championship game the following week.
On that last point, I think it’ll help Georgia’s concentration on Tech that we don’t yet know for sure who the Dogs will play in the Dome.
As for the question of whether the Jackets remain Georgia’s main rival, that’s complicated. There’s no doubt that for many Georgia fans (and players) the game against the Gators in Jacksonville means more since it plays a big part in who wins the SEC East. But there’s also no doubt that the Dogs and their fans hate losing to Tech worse than any other opponent. So, yeah, beating Florida is more important, but losing to Tech hurts more and beating them is such fun.
Fortunately, Georgia has had a lot of fun during the years I’ve been following the Dogs. So here, for those who might have missed it in the past, here’s an updating of my Top 10 favorite wins over Georgia Tech …
1964: Georgia wins 7-0 in Athens. The first of Vince Dooley’s 19 wins over the Jackets in 25 seasons was played on a cold, rainy day Between the Hedges. I had to listen to Ed Thilenius call it on radio but my Dad was there and came home damp but extremely happy. A Tech fumble was recovered by the Dogs at the 22, leading to a winning score by Preston Ridlehuber. The Dogs went on to the Sun Bowl while the loss to Georgia kept the Jackets out of the Gator Bowl, which made the win even sweeter.
1971: Georgia wins 28-24 in Atlanta. This nationally televised game on Thanksgiving night was highlighted by one of the greatest Bulldog comebacks ever. Tech had jumped out to a 14-0 lead and led 17-14 at halftime. Led by Andy Johnson, a classmate of mine in junior high and at Athens High School, the Dogs roared back in the second half to take a 21-17 lead, only to see Tech regain the upper hand, 24-21. The Dogs got the ball at their own 30 with 1:29 on the clock and in one of the most memorable Georgia drives of my lifetime Andy’s running and passing moved them downfield, with Jimmy Poulos going over for the winning TD.
1975: Georgia wins 42-26 in Atlanta. Another nationally telecast Thanksgiving night game on ABC saw the Dogs, led by Ray Goff and Glynn Harrison, run wild over Pepper Rodgers’ Jackets in freezing weather. I was watching this at my future wife’s family home just two days before our wedding, and their next-door neighbor was a big Tech fan. We promised to touch base after the game. I got to make the victory call.
1978: Georgia wins 29-28 in Athens. The game that cemented Buck Belue’s place in the Bulldog pantheon two years before the national championship. The Jackets were up 20-0 when the freshman quarterback got put into the game late in the first half. Helped by a great Scott Woerner punt return, Belue brought the Dogs back and threw a fourth-quarter scoring pass to Amp Arnold that gave Georgia the choice of kicking the PAT for a tie or going for two points and the win. Dooley the gambler won.
1981: Georgia wins 44-7 in Atlanta. The Dogs were riding high with Herschel Walker, but somehow that week the Atlanta sports media latched onto the idea that Georgia was ripe for an upset and we had to put up with a week of hype for the Jackets. Belue put an end to that nonsense on the first play from scrimmage with an 80-yard scoring strike to Lindsay Scott. Oh yes, and Herschel scored four touchdowns.
1993: Georgia wins 43-10 in Atlanta. Another Thanksgiving Day game on TV. This is the one where a brawl between the two teams broke out late after the Jackets had been mouthing off throughout the game. I can still see Goff pulling players out of the fray like they were children.
1997: Georgia wins 27-24 in Atlanta. Tech took a 24-21 lead and thought it had won the game, but Mike Bobo, who threw four touchdown passes that day, led the Dogs downfield, with four pass plays in 40 seconds. The folks in yellow and white still gripe about the interference flag that helped the Dogs along. I think everyone in my neighborhood probably heard the yell I let out when Corey Allen made that winning catch.
2002: Georgia wins 51-7 in Athens. Total domination from beginning to end for Richt’s SEC champions. Probably the most satisfying performance I’ve ever seen by a Georgia team against Tech. And still one of the best days I can ever recall in Sanford Stadium.
2006: Georgia wins 15-12 in Athens. Tech was the ACC Coastal Division champion and No. 16 in the country while Georgia was unranked. You would have expected Tech to be the overwhelming favorite, but the oddsmakers liked the Dogs by 2. Probably because Reggie Ball was Tech’s QB and no team could get in Ball’s head like Georgia. I remember having no doubt the Dogs would win this game simply because the Jackets still had our favorite QB. It didn’t hurt, though, that Paul Oliver never let Tech’s celebrated receiver, Calvin Johnson, become a factor. Georgia’s last scoring drive, directed by Matthew Stafford, was a classic (and you can watch it here complete with Larry Munson’s play-by-play). My daughter says this is the most exciting game she’s ever seen.
2009: Georgia wins 30-24 in Atlanta. I had not gone to Grant Field for a football game in decades, but my son took me as a belated birthday treat. Georgia uncharacteristically took the ball after winning the coin toss and set the template for the game by marching down the field on a 10-play scoring drive that saw the Dogs keeping it exclusively on the ground. Washaun Ealey ended up with 183 yards rushing on the night and Caleb King had 166, including a fantastic 75-yard touchdown run where the Jackets trailing after him reminded me of one of Herschel’s scores against Tech way back when. What a sweet walk that was from Grant Field back to the MARTA station amidst all those downcast folks in gold and white and blue!
There are many others to choose from, so feel free to share your own memories of great Georgia wins over Tech.
Go Dogs!
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548 comments Add your comment
ATADawg
November 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm
@Rich Uhh sure. But we live in the state of Georgia…not the state of Georgia Tech.
Man
November 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm
tech, where is your list of top 10 wins over UGA? Or are you still waiting on getting to 10 wins?
KJ
November 22nd, 2011
12:34 pm
Man, you have to go back to the leather helmet era for that. Probably the same year the classy Heisman forced Cumberland to put their glee club on the field to get trucked.
dga
November 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm
51-7 in 2002 was definitely the most fun I’ve ever had in Sanford Stadium.
40 Watt
November 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm
Hey Bill…have to comment on the ‘81 game…My Dad got some tickets from some Tech people he worked with. We were right on the 50 yard line, smack in the middle of the “Old Tech” folks. They looked at me as if I was from another planet all dressed in my Red and Black and were actually insulted that I was there, just cussing me and being obnoxious (can you believe that?) As soon as Buck hit Lindsey, they just all sat down and shook their heads…I was, of course, the good sport about it all…my Dad was so embarassed, he refused to go to another game with me. Now THAT was fun!
Tech Guy
November 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
Dawgs suck – and so do their redneck fans
True Tech
November 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm
Snarky Sarcastic Self? Good grief, grow up Bill.
Victory Dawg
November 22nd, 2011
12:44 pm
Tech Guy Dawgs suck but you guys swallow. Go to your mom’s basement and cry
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm
“Weed runz dis tate”……………So the DAWG FANS that say Rest Crowell you are really saying “We Have Bigger Fish To Fry.
Hahahahah…………..UGA fans saying they have Bigger Fish to Fry……………Now that is funny.
People in Georgia love the G hats, sweat shirts, and T shirts because the moron populace think the G stands for Guy, Girl, or Gangster. Got to love the education in this state. You now UGA produce MANY of the public/government school teachers. Is it any really surprise the state in 45th or higher in Education?
CHDawg
November 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm
This one is way more important than usual. We really need to impress the human pollsters with a big win.
Jarvis jones AKA Predator!
November 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm
Jackets run game is gonna get eaten alive by predator and co. Big John will blow up the interior line and leave the linebackers to prey on the backs. Goodluck tech
Predator is coming for you 
CHDawg
November 22nd, 2011
12:47 pm
Tech guy, some of us might be inclined to agree with you, but for every redneck there is an obnoxious, nerd, who goes on and on about everything but football–Dawgs are serving his burgers, UGA players are thugs…etc. The obnoxious thing might even be a bit worse than the redneck thing.
40 Watt
November 22nd, 2011
12:48 pm
Hey Bill, I have to comment on the ‘81 game. My Dad got tickets from some Tech people he knew, we were right on the 50 yard line in the middle of the “Old Tech” folks. They looked at me as if I was from another planet, all dressed in my Red and Black, cussing me and being just down right unneighborly (imagine that). As soon as Buck hit Lindsay on that first play, they all sat down and just shook their heads and didn’t say much the rest of the game. I was, of course, the good sport, but my Dad was so embarassed, he refused to go to another game with me…Now THAT was fun!
Mad Dog One
November 22nd, 2011
12:50 pm
@ still stupid at the bar You may not have figured this out but gt is in GA. DA
CHDawg
November 22nd, 2011
12:52 pm
Andy Johnson and Jimmy Poulos were two of my favorite Dawgs of all time. I still remember that game well. Come to think of it, and I never have before, Murray might remind me of AJ a bit. AJ was a bit better on his wheels, and Murray probably has a better arm. Poulos was hard to watch on those old TVs. He changed directions so quickly that you really had to watch him in a crowd, or he would get away from you.
Todd Grantham
November 22nd, 2011
12:55 pm
BRING THAT TRIPLE OPTION BUSH LEAGUE STUFF TO ME!
Need For Dawgs
November 22nd, 2011
12:56 pm
I hope Andy Brandon reads this blog. Buck Belue was probably the Dawgs best qb ever. And stop blogging using 3,000 different names !
Need For Dawgs
November 22nd, 2011
12:58 pm
Mike Bobo should be the qb’s coach not the offensive co-ordinator.
CHDawg
November 22nd, 2011
1:05 pm
I looked him up and I would change the bits to a lot. AJ was a lot better on running, and Murray is a lot better throwing. They play at about the same size, and that is what I was thinking. Murray is a little bigger. The amazing part of Johnson was his demeanor. He could be in the final minute of a dramatic comeback, and he had the appearance of a kid out fishing on a sunny day. He looked unflappable on TV, very cool under pressure.
adsadsf
November 22nd, 2011
1:09 pm
From UGA perspective, its really not that big of a rival…. nothing rides on it but bragging rights, and that’s fun for about 5 minutes, then grown men have more important things to accomplish…. its more important for us to beat USC, UT, UF, AU, KY and Van… Its more important to win the SEC East and play for a conference championship….
RealityCheck
November 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm
UGA lacks discipline….and that’s the most important attribute in terms of stopping Tech’s option attack. Richt and company are not ready! GO JACKETS!
St. Richt
November 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm
I was in the brawl in 1993. And I can tell you that it started when David Weeks, the Georgia center, was mouthing off and got into it with a former teammate of his at Marist, Boyd Andrews. It also didn’t help that Goff had Zeier throwing deep late in the game, running the score up. I love how biased your articles are, though, Uncle Jessie. Your true colors really come through when you chalk up that brawl to “jackets mouthing off the whole game.” Nice.
Ron Swanson
November 22nd, 2011
1:16 pm
Yes, Richt and company are ready. Have been “ready” at least nine times now.
1969 Graduate
November 22nd, 2011
1:20 pm
I love it when we beat Tech, but I hate it even more when we don’t.
Used to be that I’d quit going to the Athens Tech games because when I went we lost. I thought I was a jinx.
Fortunately, the last Tech game I attended in Athens was an amazingly exciting Georgia victory. My guest was a friend of the family, very familiar with sports, but having attended only professional football games. She thought it was the most wonderful of event, as did I.
It was great to introduce someone to such high level collegiate football excitement. We hardly used our seats, as it was almost full-time screaming for the Dogs.
I sure hope we show up. I’d love for Tech to bring their “A game,” and for us to still beat them to a pulp.
Go, you hairy Bulldogs!
Mr. Dawg
November 22nd, 2011
1:28 pm
Lots of great wins. The victory in 97 at Bobby Dodd stands out in particular for me. First of all, it was an exciting, hard hitting, great game between two quality teams. One of the best ever from a comepetitive standpoint. I was there with my brother. Two red sweatshirts in a sea of Yellow Jacket fans. We weren’t rude. But at least one Tech fan must have taken expception to us having the nerve to root openly for the Dawgs and barking on the kick-offs. When GT scored that late go ahead touchdown a guy behind us leaned over in our ears and screamed “IT’S OVER!!” We decided it would be best to leave without further harassment until Tech was hit with the late interference call. So we stopped and stood and watched anxsiously as the Bulldogs snatched the victory back with seconds remaining. My brother looked back at the disbelieving Tech fan as we walked away and simply said “it’s over now”.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 22nd, 2011
1:29 pm
FL is the most important rival
Not Div II Ga Tech
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 22nd, 2011
1:36 pm
Coach Christ Richt, “We need to rest Crowell to make sure he is healthy for the SEC CG”.
Aka………….”We Have Bigger Fish To Fry”
Dawgs saying the Hated Paul Johnson phrase…………”We Have Bigger Fish To FRY”
@ Live Stews thanks for taking my call and Calling OUT the Mutts on BIGGER FISH TO FRY!!!!!!!
Patrick
November 22nd, 2011
1:37 pm
RealityCheck… comments of discipline coming from a team that basically gave up a spot in the ACCCG due to a player throwing a punch? Nice…
Oh yea… how is this for a disciplined run D? Where is UGA on this list?
http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/1040
harold
November 22nd, 2011
1:38 pm
AS TECH FANS POINT OUT UGA HAS NOT BEATEN A RANKED TEAM IN THE LAST EIGHT GAMES. WHILE I AGREE TO THE FACT THAT SIX OUT OF THE LAST EIGHT TEAMS UGA DID BEAT HAVE HORRIBLE LOSING RECORDS, I AM STILL CONVINCED THAT THIS AVERAGE UGA TEAM STEAMROLLS OVER GT——WHO IS ALSO VERY AVERAGE!
LSU, BAMA AND ARKANSAS ARE GREAT TEAMS—-THE ONLY GREAT TEAMS IN THE SEC. UGA WON THE EAST BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PLAY ANY OF THEM—-THANK THE LORD!
dawgfan
November 22nd, 2011
1:41 pm
Everybody remember all the “New Sheriff In Town” tough talk out of the Techies a few years ago? LMAO. Whatever happened to that one nerds? Where did the new sheriff go? You went from having a new sheriff in town to having bigger fish to fry. Then you went from having bigger fish to fry to Johnson “outcoaching” Richt in his 2nd consecutive loss to the Dawgs. Now you’re just happy if you can escape Duke with a win.
What a joke Tech is.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 22nd, 2011
1:42 pm
@Mad Dog One………….but your fans say Tech educates foreigners and terrorists. Tech has MORE out of state students and that is WHY we don’t fill the stadium.
@Flat Tire…………. so you are having a FISH FRY this weekend? LOL Are you coming to the game i would like to meet you. You are funny and a good sparring partner on the blogs.
Mike T.
November 22nd, 2011
1:43 pm
Still@theKool-aidBAR sez
Got to love the education in this state. You now UGA produce MANY of the public/government school teachers.
Here we go ,typical Nerd,always bringing up the academics,when they are forced to realize they suck at football.Seems like Tech’s superior education would teach these Nerds how to stay on topic and not to change the subject abruptly to something that’s a whole different conversation.Don’t bring up academics
on a football blog. Geez.
Mike T.
November 22nd, 2011
1:45 pm
Your true colors really come through when you chalk up that brawl to “jackets mouthing off the whole game.”
But of course.
61-39-5
November 22nd, 2011
1:47 pm
What a joke Tech is.
The joke by Coke.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 22nd, 2011
1:49 pm
Still@theKool-aidBAR
No I didnt get tickets. If it was at the Georgia Dome I would have since there is a little better parking closer to the stadium
DAWGS WIN SEC EAST
November 22nd, 2011
1:52 pm
its funny to watch tech fans run there mouths when we own them,whos your daddy tech! go dawgs!
The Institute
November 22nd, 2011
1:52 pm
UGA fans sure are some ignorant rednecks.
Some smokin’ that SEC pole, my goodness. SEC is 3 good teams and 9 dwarfs.
SEC Least is horrific. Tallest midget? UGA.
The Institute
November 22nd, 2011
1:53 pm
Thank goodness this one isn’t in Sanford & Son Stadium. Otherwise I’d have to bring my boots just to walk to the stadium, with all the feces everywhere.
The Institute
November 22nd, 2011
1:56 pm
Total Offensive rankings for the SEC LEAST:
Tenn #98
Auburn #93
Fl #91
SC #80
Vandy #102
Ky #118 out of 120
Wow. Just. Wow. Congrats on the defense ranking mutts!
DawgInaTruck
November 22nd, 2011
1:58 pm
We ARE having a fish fry this weekend. It has become our tradition for this game. You can have it any way you want it as long as you request it fried.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 22nd, 2011
1:59 pm
FLAT TIRE Ok sorry i would like to break bread with you and joke some in person. I really like your choice of your blog name.
has Anybody heard from…………………….CUZ?
CUZ how is Baylie and the surgery?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 22nd, 2011
2:05 pm
DAWGS WIN SEC EAST
November 22nd, 2011
1:52 pm
whos your daddy tech! go dawgs!
Whos?
WHO IS
Who’s
U’r G.E.D is showing! ……………………”Weed runz dis tate”
I think more Tech fans and students KNOW WHO their Daddy is like 96%.
Now ask that question of UGA fans and students then you know the percentage will move to like 79%
The Insitute
November 22nd, 2011
2:06 pm
There I go again, blathering about schedule, when NATS’ schedule is significantly weaker. I really should do the world a favor and go play in traffic.
KJ
November 22nd, 2011
2:07 pm
” Your true colors really come through”
Wow, so BIll is a UGA homer? On something called the junkyard fan blog? Your powers of perception are amazing; you must be the chief hard drive technician at Geek Squad.
I-DOG
November 22nd, 2011
2:07 pm
One of the tech fans in answer to the blog about “should Crowell play against tech?” answered that it shouldn’t matter because UGA has nearly all 4-5 star recruits playing while tech has only a handful.
While this is true overall, it isn’t true at tailback right now for UGA. UGA showed the door to King and Ealey (four and five star players). Samuel is hurt (5 star player) and if memory serves correctly C. Thomas was a 3 star recruit and is on again off again with suspensions and may not be available. So, without Crowell UGA would be playing 2 (former) walkons, one of which is 5 fott 6 inches tall.
He has a big heart, but without Crowell it isn’t like UGA can just turn to another 4 star player to take his place like we can at many other positions. While the two walk ons we would play have a lot of “want to”, they aren’t nearly as good as IC when he is healthy so it would make a tremendous difference in the game if Crowell doesn’t play
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 22nd, 2011
2:07 pm
Bill King
FOR THE LAST TIME WILL YOU FIX THE FILTER PLEASE
The Institute
November 22nd, 2011
2:09 pm
LOL, some stupid mutt fan tries to hijack my handle and MISPELLS IT. LOL.
And I thought mutts couldn’t get any dumber.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 22nd, 2011
2:09 pm
The Institute
I rather wade in the cesspool with boots on than have to wear a bullet proof vest at Bobby-Bu-Shay stadium
KJ
November 22nd, 2011
2:09 pm
Hilarious how the koolaid man (probably refers to his physique) is ragging on grammar, when his posts are a grammatical nightmare. Just more delusion, from the most delusional fanbase in CFB.
RAID
November 22nd, 2011
2:10 pm
Institute….Come up with a new line of stats ok!……Your constant banter about the same old stuff is becoming very old to us all……..Our stats in the games you listed are very comparable to the LSU’s and Alabamas stats against the same teams and in many cases even better……..Thanks for the congrats on our defense……as opposed to the numbers the Jackets have put up against the mighty ACC…..Hope your back here with those same numbers next week just proving your ignorance even more, which is’nt a hard case to prove anyway